UDIA raises strong concern with the Wollondilly Shire Council Neighbourhood Plan Policy. With this policy, Council is seeking to provide another planning approval layer between and the development application stage to bring together the strategic intent of the local environmental plan closer to the development outcome. Our members’ experience working in the Wollongong City Local Government Area at West Dapto has shown that the neighbourhood plan adds time and cost to an already complicated NSW planning approval system. The neighbourhood plan has no statutory weight, is not recognised as a legitimate planning stage by referral agencies and the outcomes are not contestable by a developer or applicant.
We do not support the Wollondilly Shire Neighbourhood Plan Policy and we encourage Council to investigate alternative solutions such as Council leading on the planning for a neighbourhood or precinct, Council to continue to use the Concept DA process or encourage the concurrent preparation of the planning proposals, precinct plan, and contributions plan by a developer. We will further advocate with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment to restrict other growth area councils from using the neighbourhood planning process.